Rehabilitation of refugees in Angarkata area : West Kumarikata, Kamrup Assam

Angarkata area in West Kumarikata Panchayat is inhabited by largely 'forgotten people' refugees from neighbouring Bangladesh who have taken possession of vacant land albeit sans official sanction. The non-recognition of their occupation and cultivation of these lands has resulted in their ceasing to have, as it were, a recognised existence. In the circumstance they toil in isolation on unfertile areas without irrigation, only to. starve. They have already touched the nadir of human misery.

This document pleads for reaching a kind of emergency relief to this hapless population without making an issue of their occupation of lands without due sanction. Their problem is entirely human and early political decisions in this regard are a crying need. In the interregnum, suggestions are made for not very costly irriga tion schemes supplemented by minimal agricul tural extension services to alleviate their sufferings.

It is hoped that this report will not only arouse the conscience of those-both officials and non officials who can do something for the people of Angarkata, but also give some concrete project proposals on which action can start immediately.